Janet L. Dunstan, 80

Janet L. (Jan) Dunstan of Sedalia, Missouri, passed away at Heisinger Bluffs Care Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at the age of 80.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Gladys Bouma, her brother Robert Bouma, and her grandson Mark Kenton Dunstan II.

Jan is survived by her brother John Bouma of Phoenix, AZ; daughters Cindy Dunstan-Lamkin of Osage Beach, MO, and Holly Riehn of Jefferson City, MO; son Mark Dunstan of Eldon, MO; grandchildren, Melinda Wrye-Washington, John Kritos, Wendi Dunstan, and Mark Kenton Dunstan III; great-grandchildren Michael and Madison Washington; and several nieces and nephews.

Janet Lou Bouma was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on June 23, 1932. She graduated from Pocahontas High School in Pocahontas, IA, and attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. She graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education. She was a resident of Eldon, MO for 35 years, where she and her former husband owned Dunstan Drug. Jan taught country school at the Rock Island School near Eldon in the early 1950’s and later taught music in the Eldon Public Schools for 26 years. Jan also taught private voice and piano lessons in her home. Jan was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, American Legion Auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star, and served as Mother Advisor for the Order of Rainbow Girls. She served as choral director for both the Eldon Baptist Church and Eldon United Methodist Church at different times and was the pianist for the Epworth United Methodist Church in Sedalia for several years. After she retired from teaching, she moved to Sedalia, MO, where she owned and operated George’s Steak House with her daughter Cindy from 1987-1990. She was also a substitute teacher for the Sedalia School District for several years. After retiring from teaching, she enjoyed winters in Hawaii for several years, often traveling with her parents.

A varsity basketball player in high school, Jan was a superb athlete who enjoyed sports and outdoor activities of all kind. She particularly enjoyed golf and tennis, and was an active member of the Eldon Country Club, twice winning the ladies club championship in golf. Beautiful trees, gardens, flowers, and shrubs surround her home in Sedalia -- the result of her love of the outdoors and her many hours of loving labor. Jan was also an avid walker, often covering several miles a day at a fast clip.

Several years ago, Jan became quite the computer user, and she has developed a list of more than 400 “friends” on Facebook, many of whom had been former students. She has enjoyed regular communication with her many friends, wielding her computer with the same expertise as she once wielded her golf clubs and tennis racket.

Visitation will be from 4pm to 8pm, Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Janet L. Dunstan Memorial Music Scholarship fund in care of the family.

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